Emergency tire chain



,uy 2, 1935. E. A. STULLER EMERGENCY TIRE CHAIN Filed July l2, 1955 WD. ,uibk

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Patented July 2, 1935 PATENT OFFICE EMERGENCY TIRE CHAIN Earl Stuller, Chicago, I11.assignor to Western Chain Products Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 12, 1933, Serial No. 679,999

5 Claims.

The invention relates generally to tire chains andin particular to that type known as emergency chains wherein one or-more of the chains may M'be operatively secured in tire embracing relationV without lifting or otherwise moving the wheel.

An object of the invention is'to provide a tire chain of this nature embodying new and improved means for preventing slipping or undesired movement of the chain relative tor the tire.

Moreparticularly stated, another object resides in the provision ofa tire chain device having members loosely mounted on the chain to extend transversely thereof for engagement with opposite sides of a radial supporting part of the wheel assembly, said members being limited by the rchain structure against movement (longitudinally of ythe device and against relative separating movement whereby tofprevent substantially Vany circumferential movement of the chain relative to the tire in either direction.

Other 'objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tire and wheel assembly with a device embodying the features of the invention mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through a tire and wheel assembly, and is taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the means for holding the chain against slipping.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The present invention is eminently satisfactory for heavy duty purposes and a device embodying the features of the invention is shown as being assembled upon a truck wheel. The wheel assembly comprises a tire IIJ, rim II and radial supporting disk wheel I2 which is usually provided with a number of rather large apertures I3. I 4 indicates a valve stem accessible through one of the apertures.

The emergency tire chain device embodies generally an elongated member which is adapted to lit circumferentially about the tire and rim and to extendthrough. one of the apertures in the disk wheel so thatrk the ends may be secured together to hold the device in place. In this embodiment, the device comprises a pair of road engaging members chains or the like, dimensioned to extendk yacross the tread portion' of' the tire. The chains are maintained in spaced' relation by a pair of cross bars I6 (Figs. V.1 and 2) with which the ends of the chains are connected. y 10 Secured centrally to the opposite sides of the cross barsare connecting means I'I and I8 which are arranged toextend substantially toa meeting point adjacent'the rim and preferably opposite to the tread portion of the tire. The connectingimeansll is, in this instance, a chain, the last link of jwhich has a detachable fastening device I9 of l any suitable construction connected thereto, the length ofjthe chain I'I `being such as to extend fromthecross bars IB through Van aperture I3 to locate Vthe fastening device I9'behind and adjacent to the rim. The opposite connecting means I8 also comprises a short length of chain, the end line of which is engageable by the fastening device I9.

Simple means is provided for holding the tire chain device against slipping movement along its length about the tire. In actual operation the tendency of the device toward such movement is quite pronounced and if such movement is not prevented results in a displacement of the road engaging chains I5 from their proper position relative to the tread of the tire. In the present instance, such movement is prevented by the arrangement of parts best seen in Figs. 2 5 and 3. Thus, the link 20 of the connecting chain I1, which extends through the aperture I3, carries a pair of plates 2| which are apertured as at 22 to receive the link. These plates are mounted loosely on the chain to extend trans- 0 versely or laterally thereof and are limited against movement longitudinally of the chain and against relative separating movement by the adjacent links of the assembly. The link 20 on which the plates are mounted ispreferably somewhat arcuate longitudinally to conform to the bend in the connecting means at this point.

In use and operation, the plates are disposed one on either side of the disk wheel I3 as shown in Fig. 2, the looseness of the plates on the link o 20 permitting one of the plates to be readilyv turned endwise and passed through an aperture I3 in the disk wheel. After a connection between the ends of the connecting means I1 and I8 has been established by the fastening device I5, which are preferably "5 ls, it win be evident that the two piates 2| wm hold the tire chain device in its proper position relative to the wheel assembly. The looseness of the plates on the link, however, allows the device to shift, to a very limited extent, under actual Voperating conditions, but such movement is, oiY

course, insuflcient to allow the road engaging section of the device to become displaced rela,- tive to the tread of the tire. Preferably, the ends of the plates are turned outwardly,` as at 23, to facilitate separation of the plates prior to the insertion of one of them through an aperture i3 and to avoid damage to the disk wheel bythe ends of the plates. y

While the present device has beenv described in connection with a disk wheel, it will be obvious that the device will function satisfactorily when installed on wheel assemblies embodying other types of radial supporting means for the tire and rim. f Y f I claim as my invention:

1. An emergency tire chain device comprising the combination of a plurality ofv elongated road 'engaging chains adapted to' t across thejt'read gto extend through an aperture in the wheel, and

a pair vof plates through which said link loosely extends, said plates being engageable with op- Y posite sides of said wheel `and being' limited against movement longitudinally of the, chain andV against relative separating movement from each other by 'engagement ofthe plates. with the links adiacent tov said arcuate link whereby the engagement of said plates yWitlithe wheel prevents substantial movement of theV device about the tire. Y A 2. An emergency tire chain device comprising,

in combination, means adapted to fit about a,

kengagement therewith, and means for limiting the extent of relative separation of said plates.

' emergency tire chain device comprising" in combination, means adapted to t about a tire including a road engaging section and means for detachably connecting saidsection in proper relation to the tread of the tire,kand means carried by vsaid device and having limited relative movement longitudinally thereof for disposition on each side Vof a rim supporting part of the wheel assembly. y

4. In an emergency device 'of y the character described, the combination of an auxiliary trac,- tion assembly adapted to be secured in circumferential relation about a tirejandrim st1u :tu1e,A and a pair of loose members` extending laterally from said assembly forenrgagement 'one Vwith each sideoi the part` for supporting ,theV wheel and rim and vpreventingY transverse creeping about the tire:4k 4 A tire chain device of the character described, comprising, in combination, means adapted to t Vabout a tire including 'av road en-YA gaging section and a` flexible elementffor connecting said sectioninV placer o n .the tire, and means. carriedv by and having limited relative movement longitudinali/of said element and exassembly,pwhereby said device will bevr C against transverse creeping about the tire. Y

EARL STULLER. 

